Effectiveness of each target body temperature during therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Purpose: According to the 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, unconscious adult patients with a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest should be cooled to 32°C to 34°C for 12 to 24 hours. However, it is unclear which target temperature is more adequate. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the outcome and adverse effects following 3 target temperatures (32°C, 33°C, and 34°C) during therapeutic hypothermia with ROSC after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Relative adrenal insufficiency after cardiac arrest: impact on postresuscitation disease outcome.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the cortisol response and determine the relative adrenal insufficiency after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study describing the prevalence of relative adrenal insufficiency in consecutive patients admitted to an intensive care unit following ROSC (>24 hours) after cardiac arrest. The study institution is a 1,300-bed urban hospital with an annual intensive care unit census of 80.